Kirk To Campaign Against Durbin

U.S. Sen. Mark S. Kirk (R-Ill.) is throwing his support behind Republican Senate candidate Jim Oberweis. Kirk said a month ago that he would not campaign for Oberweis, in order to protect his working relationship with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Now, “I will be campaigning for Jim Oberweis,” he says. Kirk expects Durbin not to be bothered.

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“He and I have a very good relationship. He expects that in a general election that I would be backing the Republican candidate,” he said. Durbin says the turnaround by Kirk is news to him. “He said he wasn’t going to campaign against me. I called him and thanked him, and that’s where we left the conversation in Washington.” Durbin is seeking a fourth term in the Senate. Oberweis ran for the Senate in 2002 and 2004, but lost the Republican primary both times. He is the Republican nominee this time.